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Hello,

Saw quite a few dead specimens of this fly hanging on grassleaves and fences. A closer look gives me the idea they dead of some sort of disease. Is that indeed the case?

Andr

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Hi Andre.
I'd say male Phaonia (errans?) and fungi.
Nikita

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Wow,

Nikita. And I always thougth Moscow was a long way away. Your quick!
Do you also know why quite a few of them get it at the same time? Is it contagious? And why they all died hanging on their snout?

Thanks,

Andr

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It is only my thoughts, but I think that fungi origine desease is approxmately same as Saprolegia of aquarium fishes; when conditions become bad (in case of fish too cold, in case of fly may be too cold and wet) this parasitic fungi bacome to grow.
Nikita

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I think this type of fungi is called Entomophorales.

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Hi Nikita and crex,

Very enlightning. Your explanation sounds most plausible, Nikita.

Tnakns, both of you.

Andr

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Nikita is on holiday in Turkey. He should be outside catching flies! :p

This fungus is Entomophthora muscae. There is quite a good account of it at http://botit.bota...r2000.html.
It attacks many species of flies, notably Scathophaga, muscids and smaller hoverflies like Melanostoma.
This unfortunate fly is Phaonia turguriorum.

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Hi Tony,

I,ve read the article and feel sorry even more for the poor flies that unwantedly pick up one of those spores. Hope they don't suffer too much.
Thanks again,

Andr